Harness-saddle.



N0. 644,838. Patented Mal. 5, |900. J. H. WHEELER.

HARNESS SADDLE.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1899.) (No Model.)

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JOSEPH I-I. IVIAIEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,838, dated March 6, 1900.

Application filed October 2, 1899. Serial No. 732,289. (No model.)

To @ZZ 1072/0711/ t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. lVHEELER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Saddles, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. l

The invention relates to the saddle-piece of harnesses, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with heavy draft-harnesses, though it may be used in connection with lighter makes.

The object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the pads of the saddlepiece up and down in order to better adapt them to the formof the animals back and to give relief if the back becomes tender.

Theinvention consists in various parts and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which* .elevation of the same.

Figure 1 is a detail plan of the improved saddle-piece, one of the pads being removed for the purpose of better showing the construction of the j ockey-plate. Fig. 2 is a side Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal central section through one of the pads and its jockey-plate. Fig. e is a plan view of the jockey-plate removed. Fig. is a bottom plan of the same. Fig. 6 isa plan view of a hinge-plate used in connection with the pad. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. S is a plan view of a modied form of hinge-plate, and Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the same.

One of the pads of the saddle-piece is shown at 10, and the jockey-plates, adapted to be attached to the pads, are shown at 11 11, the

two jockey-plates being united by means of a rigid arch 12. Each jockey-plate is provided at its upper end with a downwardly and forwardly projecting lip 13, which is adapted to pass through the outer cover 14- of the pad and through the reinforcing bur-piece 14a. As the bur-piece is usually made of a composition which, while being quite hard, is liable nevertheless to become indented by continued pressure, the wear-plate 15 is interany suitable elastic form.

versely recessed intermediate of its ends to accommodate a hinge-plate 16, which carries the hinge-lugs 17, to which the arch 12 is pivotally secured. The width of the plate 16 is less than the length of the recess within which it is located, so that it may be adjusted longitudinally as to the jockey-plate, thereby providing for the adjustment of the pad lon-v gitudinally. In order to bind the hinge-plate in the position to which it may be adjusted, a binding-screw 18 enters it through a longitudinal slot 19 in the jockey-plate, and the contacting faces of the latter plate and the hinge-plate are serrated transversely as tothe pad, as shown at 2O and 21.

To adapt the device for light harnesses but one hinge-lug is required,and hence the hinge-A plate takes the form shown at 22, which is provided with a single upstanding hinge-lug 23, adapted to project through" the slot 19.

' Bumpers 25 are located at the upper end of the jockeysplate, so as to receive the pres" ping upon the shaft in mounting or alighting from the vehicle. These bumpers may take' As shown they consistV of blocks of rubber set in sockets formed in ears 24:, projecting forwardly from the jockey-plates.

1n fitting the harness to a horse the pads may be adjustedto adapt them to the conformation of his back by simply loosening the bindingscrews 18 and adjusting the hingef plate relative as to the pad. Should the animals back become tender, the position may be shifted in a similar manner, so as to give him relief, and inasmuch as the adjustment is accomplished so readily it will be found advisable to shift the pads frequently.

I claim asmy invention- 1. In a harness-saddle, in combination, a jockey-plate attached to the pad and having its lower face transversely recessed, a plate IOO fitting Within such recess and adapted for set through the slot of the jockey-plate into movement longitudinally as to the pad, such the hinge-plate.

plate having a hinge-lug, and means for se 8. In a harness, in combination, a pair of 15 curing the plate in any position to which it pads, a jockey-plate attached to each pad and 5 may be adjusted. havinga forwardly-projecting apertured ear,

2. In a harness-saddle, in combination, a a rubber bumper secured in the aperture of jookeyplate attached to the pad and having the ear, and a rigid arch hinged to the jockeyits lower face transversely recessed and lonplates so as to be cushioned by the bumpers. zo

gitudinally slotted," a plate itting Within JOSEPH H. VI-IEELER. Io such recess and adapted for movement lon- Witnesses: gitudinally as to the pad, such plate having LOUIS K. GILLsoN,

an upstanding hin gel-lug, and a binding-screwT PAUL CARPENTER. 

